Re: Cocktail Resources for the N00B

I find Ted Haigh's "Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails" to be a good book to start from. To go upscale a bit there is the "PDT Cocktail Book" by Jim Meehan which is worthwhile but a bit more complex. And of course summer says Tiki to me so I also recommend Beach Bum Berry's "Remixed" which is an update and combination of two earlier tiki classics from the Bum!

The Savoy Cocktail Book has a lot of cocktail recipes but not always a lot of history or explanations so I don't find that I refer to it much.

Imbibe Magazine also has a lot of seasonal drink recipes and I have really enjoyed many of them. It is a bimonthly magazine devoted to all things drinking to include beer, wine, spirits as well as coffee, tea and other beverages.

That yella whiskey runnin' down my throat like honey dew vine water and I took another slash…

Re: Cocktail Resources for the N00B

I second Trey Manthey's recommedation of The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks. Great history given, and as it was written in the 1930's, the old timely phrases and humor really make it a joy to read.

It is a very interesting book as well as a nice historical reference. The author, an attorney, did indeed live through prohibition although the book was first published in 1948 and reprinted several times in the 50's. As part of the cocktail revival it was then reprinted about 5 years ago by a couple of leaders of the revival. Many of the ingredients he mentions are no longer around or have only recently been revived as part of the nouveau cocktail movement.

An interesting book as it is from the perspective of a home enthusiast and not a bartender. Which did not prevent him from expressing his strongly held opinion on things!

Might not be my first choice for someone new to cocktails though.

That yella whiskey runnin' down my throat like honey dew vine water and I took another slash…